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Arsenal v Everton: Who will in the pivotal Premier League clash?

By Harneet Singh Sethi

MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring a goal for Arsenal during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Arsenal at Riverside Stadium on April 17, 2017 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images)
MIDDLESBROUGH, ENGLAND - APRIL 17: Alexis Sanchez celebrates scoring a goal for Arsenal during the Premier League match between Middlesbrough and Arsenal at Riverside Stadium on April 17, 2017 in Middlesbrough, England. (Photo by David Price/Arsenal FC via Getty Images) /
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Arsenal’s season is near a merciful conclusion

After months of castigation, overwhelmings and Wenger out chants, the Premier League season does, at last, stand on the verge of a close – how pleased must Arsenal be. It’s been an awful campaign in every respect. From an opening day trouncing at the hands of Liverpool to a 10-2 battering against Bayern Munich, Arsenal in 2017 have been a dud side – harsh but true.

It’s been a season of firsts for the Gunners, Tottenham Hotspur finishing higher for the first time under Arsene Wenger, for example. Bad news? Seems like it, considering who do the Gunners’ top-four hopes rely upon as they face the prospect of finishing outside the top four. Finally.

For the moment, Arsenal can still afford to believe as they face Everton, who they’ll have to beat anyway, or else, hope for Liverpool to lose 2-0 to Middlesbrough and get a point against the Toffees themselves. Well, simply put, Arsenal have to win and expect Liverpool to get anything other than a win – even a 6-6 draw would do.

But there’s a bad news already. The Arsenal boss doesn’t just know how to beat Ronald Koeman, his last victory over the Dutchman coming ages ago in a 1-0 win against Southampton at The Emirates Stadium. Since then, the Everton boss has been able to inflict more damage upon Wenger than Jose Mourinho, winning 2-0 (H), 4-0 (H) and 2-1 (H) while also securing a goalless draw at The Emirates Stadium.

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As far as statistics are concerned, the only reason for optimism here is that Ronald Koeman has only ever won just once at The Emirates Stadium, failing on the other five occasions.

Of course, Arsenal’s recent form will suggest that it’s their game to lose, offering more than a smorgasbord of reasons as to why will they finish with 75 points, four more than last season. Alexis Sanchez and Mesut Ozil have both been combining pretty well, the defence has generally been decent and the midfield maestro Granit Xhaka is beginning to justify his price tag. In all likelihood, The Emirates Stadium should be a calm place after the 90 minutes. If not, Arsenal would have either qualified for the UEFA Champions League or lost to Everton.

Quotes

“What you want is that they (Middlesbrough and Watford) have a go and they fight,” Arsene Wenger said. “I think, traditionally in England, you have that. Hopefully that will be the case.

“Everybody will be under scrutiny so you just want the teams like Everton to fight against us, Middlesbrough will fight against Liverpool, Watford will fight against City. That’s what you want. If you want to be in the best in the league in the world, you should not even question that.”

Next: Arsenal lose top transfer target due to Arsene Wenger

Possible XI

Cech, Holding, Koscielny, Mustafi; Monreal, Xhaka, Ramsey, Bellerin; Ozil, Alexis, Giroud.

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